Extension table and compartment suspension therefor



Feb. 2, 1960 J. c. L. VIEHMANN EXTENSION TABLE AND COMPARTMENT SUSPENSION THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1957 INVENTOR Joy/v VI-EHMANN BY 77 7%, 7

ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1960 J. c. L. VIEHMANN EXTENSION TABLE AND COMPARTMENT SUSPENSION THEREFOR Filed Oct. 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JH/V VIIEHMANN IIIIII'I'IIIIIIIIIIIII'I ATTORNEYS United States Patent EXTENSION TABLE AND COMPARTMENT SUSPENSION THEREFOR John C. L. Viehmann, Manhasset, N.Y.

Application October 3, 1957, Serial No. 687,954

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-246) This invention relates to extension tables or the like, and more particularly to a novel table that may be of the extension type and which may have a compartment or drawer laterally and longitudinally moveable relative to the table top, and is an improvement on my United States Patent Number 2,750,242.

In the present invention the slideable extension and drawer arrangement embraces novel features, and it is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel slideable extension and compartment arrangement usable for a table.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for a compartment or drawer suspension usable with an extension table.

A further object is to provide a novel suspension compartment or drawer arrangement that may be attached to a table or the like to provide a drawer or similar compartment with freedom of positional displacement in two directions 90 degrees apart.

A further object is the provision of novel compartment supporting brackets for an extension device which may have the dual function of supporting separable table top portions and a positionable compartment having two degrees of freedom of motion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may become apparent from the written description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of the invention partly broken away and with certain parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along lines 2--2 of Fig. l, with certain parts broken away and partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2 with parts shown in moved position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary inverted section taken on the lines 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail vertical section taken on the lines 55 of Fig. 2 showing particularly the spaced relation of the complemental table brackets.

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 5 taken on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section taken on the lines 7--7 of Fig. 2 showing a roller for slideably connecting the complemental table brackets.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section similar to Fig. 2 embodying a modification of the slideable drawer sup port;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing a further modification of the drawer support; and

Fig. 10 is still another modification of the drawer support.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an extension table having table top portions 20 and 21 which are shown in a closed position represented by solid lines and indicated in an extended position shown by the dotted portions 22 and 23. The table top has conventional legs 26 secured to the underneath surface of the table top portion, and a skirt or apron portion 28 about the peripheral edge of the table top.

A drawer 30 is moveably affixed on the underneath side of the table top and disposed to be moved laterally of the table top so that it may be withdrawn from its normally closed position below the table top, to either side of the table top. The drawer 30 has a pair of like drawer sides 32 disposed in spaced relation to one another, and a pair of like drawer ends 34 secured to the respective end portions of the drawer sides 32, and, when assembled, form the end and side walls of the drawer. The drawer bottom 36 is inset or secured to the drawer in any convenient manner. The drawer sides 32 each have a recessed portion 39 wherein a drawer moveable slide 4tiis free to move as will be explained later. A pair of drawer supports 41 each have a recess 42 formed therein substantially like and complemental to the recess 39, said recesses 42 and 39 being disposed opposite each other so that the drawer moveable slide 40, which may be an elongated strip of wood being substantially square in a cross section thereof, may be positioned within each of the pair of complemental recesses on opposite sides of the drawer. The drawer moveable slide 40 is of a cross-sectional size which permits said slide to be freely moveable in the recesses 39 and 42, so that the moveable slide will support the drawer when same is placed in the operative position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and yet permit the drawer to be freely moveable from either side of. the table.

The drawer supports 41-41 are held at a fixed spaced distance apart by across member 41a which is affixed to the underside thereof in a position to permit free sliding movement of the drawer 30.

A pair of stop pins 27 are secured in each of the drawer supports 41 and extend into the recess 42. The stop pins act as limiting means for the drawer moveable slide 40 so that the moveable slide may be freely moveable when p the drawer is withdrawn from its normally closed position but will. engage either one or the other of the stop pins 27 to prevent the moveable slide from being withdrawn outwardly beyond the stop pin. The shoulders 44 on opposite ends of each of the drawer sides 32 may be moved outwardly until the shoulder 44 engages the end of the drawer moveable slide 40. Thus, the shoul ders 44 act as a pair of limiting means, in each instance, to prevent the drawer from being completely laterally removed from the drawer supports 41.

In the present invention there is shown two pair of complemental table brackets positioned] longitudinally and in spaced relation to each other, and secured on opposite sides of the under surfaces of the table top. These complemental table brackets have dual functions by providing a means of supporting the table top portions 20 and 21, while permitting movement therebetween and simultaneously of providing means for supporting the drawer 30, yet permitting the drawer to be moveable longitudinally of the table as the action of spreading apart or closing the table top sections is performed.

Figs. 3 and 4 show side and bottom views respectively, of one pair of the complemental table brackets having two discrete brackets 46 and 48 secured by screws 49 to the respective underneath portions of the table tops. The brackets 46 and 48 are spaced one from the other but coupled together by sectional rollers 50 positioned in longitudinal slots 52 and 54 of bracket 46, and in longitudinal slots 56 and 58 formed in bracket 48. The rollers 50 are sectional and are formed in two similar portions held together by a rivet 60. A spacer 62 is placed between the opposed portions 63 and 64 of the brackets 48 and 46 respectively, with said spacer having a central aperture 65 therein which fits on rivet 60 so that the brackets 46" and 48 may be freely moveable yet held in slideable position by rollers 50 as the table top portions 20 and 21 are moved to and fro when manipulated longitudinally.

Each of the brackets 48 and 46 have turned-in portions 68 and 69 respectively, which forms a tubular portion to receive slide rods such as 70 and 71, of which there is one for slideable engagementwith each of the turnedin portions or tubular portions 68 and 69. Slide rods 79 and 71 each have one end thereto secured to the drawer support 41 such as by pins 28.- The anguiar position of the slide rods 70 and 71 remains'fixed substantially at right angles to the drawer support 41, as shown in Fig. 1. The opposite end portions of the slide rods 78 and 71 engage the turned-in or tubular portions such as 68 and 69 so that as the table top with its respective brackets such as 48, is moved away from its opposing bracket such as 46, the slide rod may slide within the tubular portion of the bracket. Limiting screws such as '73 are threadedly connected to the slide rods such as 70 and 71, through slots such as 74, with the end portions 75 and 76 thereof acting as limiting means to retain the slide rods 70 and 71 within the tubular portions formed in their respective brackets.

In Fig. 8 there is a modification of the drawer support employing a modified drawer bracket 80, and wherein a tubular portion 81 is secured to a U-shaped support 82: being welded at 83 to the tubular portion. A flange such as 84 is formed on each free end of the U-shaped support 82 and each flange has a hole therein to receive a screw 85 which fastens the U-shaped support to the underneath surface of the table top. The support 82 is U-shaped so that it is a spacer for a pair of brackets 80 for each side of the compartment. In order to support the drawer 30 on each side thereof, there is a similar U-shaped support 82 positioned on the opposite side of the drawer. A headed screw 86 fits through an elongated slot 87 formed in the tubular member side area and the screw is secured to the slide rod such as 71. With this latter arrangement, the slide rod such as 71 will have free movement within the tubular portion 81 to a permit the table top extension arrangement to be manipulated while maintaining the drawer in the desired operative position below the surface of the table top.

In Fig. 9 there is shown a modification of that presented in Fig. 8, wherein the tubular member or turnedin portion such as 88 may be formed on a bracket having a cross-sectional configuration similar to that shown as element 48 in Fig. 5.

In this arrangement, screws 90 hold the flange portion 91 of the bracket in fixed relation to the underneath side of the table top. The arrangement in Fig. 9 provides that a separate bracket be formed for each of the slide rods, whereas in Fig. 8 the U-shaped support 82 extends substantially across the width of the table, on the underneath side thereof, and engages both of the tubular portions such as 81.

However, either the U-shaped arrangement or the individual brackets may be used for flanges shown in Fig. 9.

In the modification shown in Fig. 10, a somewhat conventional type pair of brackets such as 93 (shown in part) and 94 is shown secured to the underneath side of 4 the table top by screws such as 90. The modification of Fig. 10 embraces a vertically disposed flat bracket 95 having a drawer engaging flange 96 secured to the sides of the drawer by screws such as 90. The flat bracket 95 has an elongated portion with a slot 96 formed therein, and is held in slideable engagement against a surface of the brackets such as 94 by a headed screw 97. With this arrangement, as the table top portions are moved inwardly or outwardly, the drawer such as 30, will be retained below the table top surfaces in operative condition and be freely moveable either laterally or longitudinally within predetermined limits.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the invention not only provides a unique extension table having a novel compartment suspension arrangement, but also provides novel unitary brackets which may be an attachment for existing extension tables. Consequently with the present invention a compartment may be subsequently suspended beneath the table top portions. The invention may use a single bracket or a pair of brackets on either side of the drawer or compartment.

While the present showing of the invention is a preferred illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto as changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an extension table comprising two separable top portions and a pair of separate parallel extensible angle brackets each having a pair of relatively movable portions fixed to the bottom of the respective top portions, said pair of bracket portions having slidably'contacting vertical sides and connecting means therebetween enabling limited sliding motion, a slide way in the vertical side of each portion of each bracket, a slide member positioned in each slide way, a drawer supporting member fixed to the inner end of each slide member and a drawer in said supporting member, whereby the drawer is supported by the table during movement of the top portions and is centrally located in the fully extended position of said top portions.

2. In an extension table according to claim 1, wherein the slide ways are formed in the lower edges of the vertical sides of the brackets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 802,998 Lambert Oct. 31, 1905 1,173,992 Wiesenfeld Feb. 29, 1916 1,453,121 Benner Apr. 24, 1923 2,171,772 Viehmann Sept. 5, 1939 2,471,245 Shoenberg May 24, 1949 2,628,147 Berner Feb. 10, 1953 2,676,863 Cooper -a Apr. 27, 1954 2,695,831 Sigal Nov. 30, 1954 2,716,046 Minturn Aug. 23, 1955 2,750,242 Viehmann June 12, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,676 Great Britain 1905 

